Could there be a more FACT-y festival than Synch? The line up for the 2009 edition of the Greek festival literally reads like a cross-section of the tastes of our staff and readers.

Headlining proceedings are post-rock icons Tortoise, whose new album Beacons And Ancestorship is arguably their best since 2003. Matthew Herbert will appear with his Big Band, while ethio-jazz legend Mulatu Astatke will play with The Heliocentrics. Friendly Fires bring the hormonal indie-dance, Fujiya & Miyagi and Junior Boys the doleful electro-pop, offset by sunny disco courtesy of Aeroplane.

The Bug and Mathew Jonson will represent with their ever-evolving live sets, but the main attraction dance-wise is a DJ set from Three Chairs – the holy Detroit trinity of Theo Parrish, Rick Wilhite and Marcellus Pitman. Mr Oizo and Shit Robot are also DJing. Those in search of more, er, "challenging" sounds need look no further than Japanese noise-merchant Merzbow. Having seen Fennesz play at the Ether festival last week, we can vouch for the head-crushing audio-visual brilliance of his current live show. Kosmische legends Cluster will also perform live.

There are many more acts yet to be announced for Synch ’09, and from the looks of the line-up so far, this thing is going to be all killer and absolutely no filler. It all takes place in Athens’ Technopolis and Benaki Museum. You can find more information and tickets at synch.gr; watch this space for further line-up announcements.

SYNCH FESTIVAL 2009 

LOCATION: Athens, Greece 

VENUE: Technopolis; Benaki Museum

DATES: June 12, 13, 14

TICKETS:  25-80 EUROS

WEBSITE:  synch.gr